Georgia Bell has recently been at the center of attention due to her impressive talent in middle-distance running. Her coach, Trevor Painter, made an eye-opening revelation regarding her accomplishments that even Faith Kipyegon, widely regarded as the greatest 1500m runner of all time, has not yet achieved.
Bell, the Olympic 1500m bronze medalist, has shown remarkable proficiency in the 800m, a distance in which she is highly competitive. According to Painter, she may be the fastest 800m runner who also specializes in the 1500m.
Bell’s personal best for the 800m stands at 1:56.28, which surpasses Kipyegon’s best time of 1:57.68, set in 2020. Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic 1500m champion, has since focused on the 5000m as she looks to transition towards longer distances, eventually aiming for the marathon.
Despite the shifting landscape in middle-distance running, Bell, who is 31, appears set to continue dominating the 1500m and 800m events. Her coach, Painter, expressed confidence that her 800m speed is her key strength. He has even issued a warning to Kipyegon and fellow athlete Mary Moraa. Painter stated, “There’s nobody else in the world as fast as her over 800m that runs in the 1500m race. That’s her weapon.”
Bell’s journey to success has been inspiring. She took a break from competitive running to pursue a Master’s degree in America, where she faced numerous injuries. Despite these setbacks, she has returned stronger than ever.
Painter noted that Bell’s career serves as an example for women in the sport, showing that success is still achievable even later in an athlete’s career. He added that many young athletes quit prematurely, but Bell’s return to form proves that “when the door closes, it’s never fully shut.”
This inspiring story mirrors that of Kipyegon, who is also in her 30s and continues to excel. Painter pointed out that the window for success for many female middle-distance runners typically spans from 27 to 31 years old, making Bell’s achievements even more remarkable.
